From Engadget · Mariella Moon · · 1m 30s
SpaceX targets September 28 for Starship's first orbital flight
SpaceX is preparing Starship's 14th flight to reach orbit for the first time while deploying next-generation Starlink satellites.
In brief
SpaceX is preparing Starship's 14th flight to reach orbit for the first time while deploying next-generation Starlink satellites. Starship will finally achieve orbital flight on September 28, marking a major milestone by deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites that are 10 times more powerful than current versions…
Starship targets orbital milestone
SpaceX is aiming for September 28 for Starship's 14th flight, which will be its first orbital mission. The launch window opens at 8:15 AM Eastern Time with a 75-minute window, pending regulatory approval.
“Now targeting to launch Starship Flight 14 as early as Monday, September 28, pending regulatory approval”
From suborbital tests to orbit
All previous Starship flights have been suborbital to prioritize safety and learning. This mission represents the next phase to prepare the vehicle for future flights and demonstrate reusability.
Starship will orbit six times
During the 10-hour mission, Starship will fly 171 miles above Earth and complete six full orbits. The upper stage will then crash into the Pacific Ocean near Chile after deploying its payload.
Starlink V3 satellites deploy
The mission will carry 26 Starlink V3 satellites to orbit for the first time operationally. These next-gen satellites offer 10 times more downlink capacity than V2 models and 22 times more uplink capacity.
“Starlink V3 satellites can support 1 Tbps of downlink, 10 times more than what the V2 satellites are capable of”
Booster splashes down separately
The Super Heavy booster will splash down in the Gulf of Mexico minutes after launch. Unlike previous tests, SpaceX won't attempt to catch it with the launch tower's arms this time.
The bottom line
Starship will finally achieve orbital flight on September 28, marking a major milestone by deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites that are 10 times more powerful than current versions.
